Aboriginal Spirituality

Question 1

Importance of land in AP

Answer 1

• is of great importance = because of its r/s w/ Dreaming
• two are inextricably linked = AP understand land = key role in sustaining r/s w/ ancestral beings, who continue to
  dwell within
• these ancestral beings = held responsible for creation of land + stories + expressions of Dreaming - hence identity for AP
• is the physical medium through which the Dreaming is lived + communicated
• land provides foundation for Ab beliefs, traditions, rituals + laws
• is the Dreaming that provides AP w/ purpose + meaning = allowing them to cultivate their spirituality
• Ancestral Beings continue to dwell within land because of stewardship of previous gens
• AP recognise + seek to fulfil their obligations to land for the continuity of the life-sustaining Dreaming for future gens
• see themselves as custodians of the land, with a duty to nurture + protect species + totems which live in/off it
• land is central to ceremonial life = perform rituals on sacred sites (sig) e.g. Male Initiation Rites, Burial ceremonies = integral for transition = needs land
• kinship: protection/ custodianship of land becomes an integral part of life of each indiv + culture of tribe as a whole = sense of identity/ belonging

Question 2

Discuss the continuing effect of dispossession on Aboriginal spiritualities in relation to:
- separation from kinship groups

Answer 2

• link b/w AP + land can be seen through stewardship of
  land, expressed through roles + responsibilities gifted through kinship system
• The systematic, forcible removal of (A) children from their families over a no. of gens, a phenomenon named ‘the Stolen Generation’, had sig ramifications not
  only for family groups but the wider network of r/s expressed through the kinship system
• ultimately led to the breakdown of kinship relations, roles + responsibilities arising from that system
• ritual roles associated w/ kinship system were affected, resulting in a wider sense of loss in (A) spiritualities
• These include: inability to pass on stories, perform ritual, maintain totems + sacred sites resulting in loss of sig components of (A) spiritualities for many groups
• As a result, SFKG = profound component in breakdown of (A) spiritualities for many (A) Australians
• Unable to practice balance rituals
• Loss of language - also severely restricted: over 500 language groups prior to Euro settlement
• culture = relies heavily on oral tradition: many stories have died out completely = not any people left to speak language
• AP lost sense of identity + belonging, not only to land, but also to each other

Question 3

Importance of Land Rights movement for (A) spiritualities

Answer 3

• land is central to the expression of Dreaming = provides basis of ritual, totem + identity
• Disconnection from land through gens of removal has seen a gen of ppl w/ a loss of cultural identity, heritage + physical land
• Land Rights movement recognises inextricable connection b/w and + Dreaming + aims to restore the spiritual + physical r/s w/ the land
• is a religious + political movt of AP to secure rights to their land + ensure continuation of their spiritualities = inextricably connected to the land
• Important in helping AP re-establish spiritual links w/ land which were lost as a result of Euro settlement
• Native title = legal term recognising rights of ATSI to occupy their lands for trad purposes.
• Mabo Case (1992), Native Title Act (1993) + Wik
  Decision (1996) all contributed to re-establishing in law the connection + access AP had w/ the land
• By supporting the work of the LRM, AP have access to legal + political rights + may fulfil their cultural responsibilities = in turn strengthens their connection to Dreaming

Question 4

Importance of Land Rights movement (cases) for (A) spiritualities

Answer 4

• Native Title, Mabo and Wik = highly sig for LRM = help to recognise inextricable connection b/w land + expressions of Dreaming
• Native Title = legal term recognising the rights of AP to use + occupy their lands for trad purposes = providing a continued connection w/ land
• therefore Native Title = important role in helping AP strengthen connection w/ Dreaming
• Mabo Case (1992) (took Q govt to court) overturned notion of ‘Terra Nullius’ = very sig as the first legal recognition for LRM = recognising AP ownernship + custodianship + settlement of the land = progressed LRM
• In 1993, the Native Title Act + subsequent
  amendments (1997) stated Native Title + leasehold rights could coexist, giving leaseholders ‘priority’ –> although clarification of the Act, the LRM sees this as an area
  for further negotiation as need requirements e.g. proof of ass = restricted ability to claim land (as mainly an oral trad) = impacting progression
• Native Title Act continues to be reviewed in relation to its perceived ‘shortcomings’ + this has assisted objs of the movt with Wik dec…
• Wik Decision (1996) focused on trad ppl + connection to land + coexistence, reiterating importance of Native Title
• IP = now members of the bodies created + possess legal authority to manage land rights claims
• Each contributed to re-establishing in law the connection + access AP had with the land, recognising importance of AP in the decision-making process, = highlighting their (sig) for the LRM
• shortcomings: all of these cases only applied to those who could prove a continuing trad connection to the land
• seen sig steps forward –> although important = still much to be achieved

Question 5

continuing effect of dispossession on (A) spirituality

Answer 5

• Dispossession = forced removal of AP from their land, security, way of life + culture as a result of ‘white’ colonisation + development of Assimilation policy (1951)
• As Dreaming = inextricably connected to land, the loss of land as a result of dispossession led to a loss of identity, community + ability to fulfil ritual responsibilities
• had a devastating effect on their sense of identity + community as it restricted their mobility + access to sacred sites = limiting ability to perform trad ceremonies/ rituals e.g. male initiation rites, severed connect to land
• Totemic obligations = no longer be fulfilled + links to ancestor spirits were broken
• As a result of this isolation + disconnection, many today suffer from increased psychological illness + distress e.g. depression, anxiety, suicide, PTSD
• loss of kinship groups as a result of dispossession resulted in separation of AP from their fam + loss of language (continuing effect) = severing way Dreaming + (A) spirituality is passed on = leaving existential qus e.g. “Who am I?” unanswered
• Assimilation Policy resulted in development of Stolen Gen = saw removal of a gen from lineage of cultural transmission meaning their children didn’t receive their cultural heritage.
• kinship ties broken = elders who had sacred knowledge = unable to pass on, resulting in inability of new gens to connect w/ their (A) spirituality
• while some AP = tried to re-establish connection w/ land
  through Native Title claims many AP today = unable to connect w/ their spirituality resorted to artificial ways e.g. alcohol etc
• this lack of community pushed IA to look for support elsewhere, leading many to substance abuse + alcoholism = continuing detrimental impacts of dispossession still evident today

Question 6

Importance of the Dreaming for the LRM

Answer 6

• Dreaming as a source of the land, the people + the Law that binds AP to each other.
• Dreaming-based Law = source of people’s knowledge of kinship connections to specific country
• Dreaming is therefore essential to the LRM including Native Title
• Effects of the LRM, including recognition of Native Title,
  on the Dreaming: provides examples of rebuilding within kinship groups, reactivation of family oral traditions + Dreaming-based ceremonies, celebration of recognition
  of LR through drama, dance, literature, visual arts + song
• AP have a way to return to the land that is supported by legislation

Question 7

Importance of the Dreaming for the LRM

Answer 7

• Dreaming as a source of the land, the people + the Law that binds AP to each other
• Land = inextricably tied to one’s identity + Dreaming
• Dreaming-based Law = source of people’s knowledge of kinship connections to specific country
• Dreaming is therefore essential to the LRM including Native Title
• Effects of the LRM, including recognition of Native Title, on Dreaming: provides examples of rebuilding within kinship groups, reactivation of family oral traditions + Dreaming-based ceremonies, celebration of recognition
  of LR through drama, dance, literature, visual arts + song
• AP have a way to return to the land that is supported by legislation
• LRM meant there was a legal process in place = enabled some IA to claim native title thus connecting w/ land
• land is a resting place for ancestral spirit beings =
• having a connection w/ land allows AP to fuflfil their totemic responsibilities
• sacred sites = imperative to dreaming = native titles could be claimed on sacred sites = aids connection to dreaming + ceremonial life